Procedure for Policy #5330 Administration of Medication
No student shall carry any medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter except for those students who have School Medication Forms completed by their health care provider. Self-Administration privileges only apply to: auto-injectable epinephrine, single dose oral Benadryl for anaphylaxis use, inhalers for asthma, or glucose testing for diabetics. Absolutely no other medication may be self administered and should not be brought to school. In order to effectively implement the Board’s policy on medication, the following procedure shall be followed:
A. All medication(s) shall be brought to school in their original container by the parent/guardian or adult pupil and shall be
picked up at the end of the school year or when medication is discontinued. Unused medication that is left in the school nurse’s office at the end of the school year will be discarded unless the parent/guardian has made alternate arrangements with the certified school nurses.
The School Medication Form shall be completed by the parent/guardian and health care provider and remain on file in the school nurse’s office. The student must come to the school nurse’s office to take medication unless he/she is medically approved to: self-administer auto-injectable epinephrine, single dose oral Benadryl for anaphylaxis use, inhaler for asthma, or glucose testing for diabetics.
B. The certified school nurse shall maintain a medication record, including the name of the pupil to whom medication shall be
administered, the diagnosis for which the medication is prescribed, the prescribing health care professional, the dosage, timing, and route of administration, and a notation of each instance of administration. 1. In order to ensure correct administration, medication must be given to the
2. Students may not carry medication at school unless it is auto-injectable epinephrine, single dose oral Benadryl for
anaphylaxis use, inhalers for asthma, or diabetic supplies and the student is authorized by the health care provider and parent/guardian and approved by the certified school nurse or substitute school nurse.
3. All students who take medication at school must do so in the presence of the certified/substitute school nurse or
delegate in the case of auto-injectable epinephrine unless they have medical permission to self medicate (auto-injectable epinephrine, single-dose oral Benadryl for anaphylaxis use, inhalers for asthma, or glucose testing for diabetics).
C. Medications shall be securely locked in medicine cabinet and kept in the original appropriately labeled container. Auto-
injectable epinephrine will be stored as per Chapter 18A:40-12.3-12.6
D. All medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, shall be administered by:
1. The certified school nurse or substitute school nurse
3. The pupil where they have medical permission to self medicate auto-injectable epinephrine, single dose oral
Benadryl for anaphylaxis use, inhalers for asthma, and glucose testing for diabetics.
E. Normally, all medication shall be administered by the certified/substitute school nurse. The self-administration of
medication by a student will be permitted only when failure to take such medicine would jeopardize the health of the pupil. Attachment A (School Medication Form) will be used.
1. The student must report to the certified/substitute school nurse with medication, completed School Medication
Form, and must demonstrate that he/she has proper knowledge and ability in the use of the prescribed medication.
a. Self medication privileges are revoked if the student does not follow their health care provider’s instruction for
that medication exactly as written, or fails to comply with school policy.
b. Students deemed responsible may only carry the following medically prescribed medication: auto-injectable
epinephrine, single dose oral Benadryl for anaphylaxis use, inhalers for asthma and diabetic supplies.
c. The student must report to the certified/substitute school nurse daily and report the use of the self-administered
medication.
2. The Board of Education and its employees or agents shall incur no liability as a result of any injury arising from self-
medication, or administration of epinephrine via a pre-filled auto-injector mechanism, or administration of glucagon via injection to a student with hypoglycemia.
3. Permission to self medicate is effective for the school year for which it is granted only and must be renewed
Adopted: August 20, 2009 Revised: August 19, 2010